"Ma..."
Mama was asleep when I got into their room. Naiuwi na namin siya for like five hours ago. Papa was outside the balcony making calls. Palagay ko ang kausap niya ay si Ninang Bathseeba. The ride home was exceptionally quiet. Kuya Apollo was gritting his teeth while driving. Percy started researching about Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease - I dunno about Kuya Achilles because he rode with Mama and Papa, kasama niya rin si Betchay.
I sat beside Mama's bed and touched her face. She stirred a bit and then she opened her eyes. Nagulat ako kaya bahagya akong lumayo sa kanya. Akala ko ay sisigawan na naman niya ako but she smiled. She sat up on her bed and faced me.
"Kanina pa kita hinihintay." Nakangiti siya sa akin. Hindi naman ako makapagsalita. I wanted to say sorry for not going after her kanina sa mall. I wanted to apologize for breaking her heart back then but words cannot express my thoughts. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya at naiiyak.
"Ma, ang tagal mo. Busy ba sa ospital?" Tanong niya sa akin. Napaawang ang mga labi ko.
"Oh... mama..." Napaluha ako ngunit itinago koi yon sa kanya.
"How was your day, Ma? I missed you!" Yumakap pa siya sa akin tapos ay ngumiti na naman. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya habang bumababa siya sa kama at inaayos ang sarili niya. "Let's take a walk in the garden Ma. I would love to tell you about my day!"
Niyakag niya ako palabras ng silid nila ni Papa. Hawak niya ang kamay ko nang napakahigpit tapos ay ngiting-ngiti siya. Miss na miss na siguro talaga niya si Lola Apollo kaya kahit sa ganitong paraan sana naman ay mabigyan ko siya nang kasiyahan.
Narating namin ang garden. Pumasok kaming dalawa sa glass house na naroon at naupo sa benches sa harap ng mga puting rosas na tanim niya. She was holding my hand and she was just staring at me.
"Hades told me you died. But I didn't believe him, Mama. Diba hindi mo naman ako iiwanan? He also told me that we're married and we have kids and that Papa was dead too but I saw Papa earlier but Hades called her Percy. Hindi ko na siya maintindihan, I don't even know why I'm here. Iniwan niya ako noon. I asked him to elope with me pero hindi sya dumating, instead si Papa ang naroon and after that well..."
I know what was coming next but I didn't say anything.
"I lost my baby, Mama..."
"Ma..." Tinawag ko siya. Parang hindi niya ako narinig. Natulala si Mama tapos bigla na lang siyang napaluha - iyong pagiyak na kalmado hanggang sa bigla na lang siyang napahagulgol.
"Sinaktan ko si Tia, Mama! Sinaktan ko siya! I just didn't want her heart to break but I broke it! I broke my little girl, Mama!"
Napatayo ako. Nanginginig ang buong katawan ko. Naulinigan kong bumukas ang pinto ng glass house at dumating si Papa. Agad niyang tinabihan si Mama tapos ay niyakap at pilit na pinatatahan.
"Ano ba, Hades? Ayoko nga sa'yo! You lost your chance when you left me that night! I hate you! Doon ka na sa babang globo!" She was bitching out pero nakita ko sa mata ni Papa na hindi man lang siya natinag bagkus ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Mama at hinagkan ang bawat daliri niyon.
"I already told you, My Queen, I will never give up. I will always be with you, beside you, underneath you because I love you very much. Remember? Hera and Hades 'till eternity. We broke the Greek Myth, My love..."
Napaluha na ako ng tuluyan. How come my Papa is like this? Paanong kaya niyang mahalin si Mama kahit na ipinagtatabuyan siya nito. Natigil ang Mama ko at tumitig sa kanya.
